Improvement in corn-husking machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. M. WIDERMAN. CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

Patents-d Dec. 12, 1876.

TH E? THE GRAPH [C CO. NM

Z Sheets-Sheet 2..

F. M. WIDERMAN.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE. $1 ,185,379, Patented Dec.12, 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

FRANCIS M. WIDERMAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF I ANDCHARLES RIDGELY GOODWIN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-HUSKING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,379, dated December12, 1876; application filed October 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. WIDERMAN, of Baltimorefin the county ofBaltimore, and in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Oombined Corn-Husker and Husk-Hackling Machines;and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my improved machine as arranged for use. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the same upon a line passing centrally from front to rear.Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a picking-tooth, with its holder andsprings, separated from each other and from the stripping-roller andFig. 4 is a longitudinal section of said roller, showing two teeth inposition for use.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The design of my invention is to render practicable the removal of husksfrom corn by machinery without injury to the grain; and also to causesaid husks to be finely divided by the operation named, so as to renderthem fit for use as filling for mattresses, cushions, 860. To which endit consists, principally, in

a picking-roller, provided upon or within its periphery with radialteeth, which are capable of yielding in the direction of their length,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth;

It consists, further, in the construction of the picking-teeth, and inthe means employed for securing the same within the stripping-roller,substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists,further, in the means employed for operating the feed-belt roller,whereby the latter increases the speed of its rotation when rising topermit an ear of corn to pass into the machine, substantially as and forthe purpose hereinafter shown and described.

In the annexed drawings, A-represents the vided at its rear lower sidewith a dischargeopening, I), and at its upper side, slightly in advanceof its longitudinal center, with a second opening, I), each of whichextends between the sides of said frame. Journaled within the forwardportion of the upper opening b is a metal roller, 0, which nearly fillsone-half said space from front to rear, and upon its periphery isprovided with longitudinal grooves or flutes c. Passing radially throughthe roller 0 at suitable points are round openings 0', each of which isprovided with an internal screw-thread at and for a short distance fromeach end, into which threaded portion is fitted a screw-washer, D, thatis provided with a round aperture at its center. Within each opening 0is placed a correspondingly-shaped cylinder or tube of rubber, E, whichloosely fills the same, and has about one-half its length. Upon each endof said rubber tube is placed a disk of metal, F, that loosely fits theopening, and is provided with a central spur or tooth,f, which projectsradially-outward, and is flattened in the form of a chisel, its edgebeing in a line, circumferentially, with the roller 0.

Upon the outer side of the disk F is placed a rubber ring, G, afterwhich the Washer D is screwed to place, as shown in Fig. 4. The

opening in said washer being considerably larger than the toothf, thelatter is permitted to yield laterally whenever too much strain isthrown upon it, such yielding motion being accomplished by thecompression of the end of the rubber tube E upon the side to whic theouter end of said tooth is moved.

Longitudinally, an equal freedom of inward motion is permitted to thetoothf by the compressible nature of its support E, so that by lesseningor increasing the density of the latter any required degree of lateraland longitudinal rigidity can be secured for said tooth,

for the purpose of enabling the same to bear with just the necessaryamount of pressure upon the corn-husks to remove the latter withoutinjury to the corn or breakage of said teeth.

Immediately in rear of the roller 0 is jour- 2 roman therewith in size,is composed ,of rubber, and has its periphery in contact with theperiphery of the former. Directly below the roller 0 is journaled askeleton or open cylinder, I, which has about twice the diameter of theformer, and at suitable points upon its periphery is provided with spurst, which project radially outward therefrom. At the rear lower side ofsaid hackling-cylinder is provided a concave, K, which hasradially-inward projecting teeth 70, that at their outer ends approachnearly to, but do not reach, the circle described by the ends of saidteeth 13.

At a short distance above the srippingroller 0 is journaled abelt-roller, L, and at a point in rear of and somewhat lower down thanthe latter is journaled a second similar roller, L, around which latterand said roller L is passed an endless belt or apron, M, that isconstructed of rubber.

The bearings N of the rear belt-roller L are made adjustable toward orfrom the front roller L, for the purpose of giving the necessary trusionto the belt M, while the front roller L has bearings O, which are openupon their upper sides so as to permit said roller to rise, forthepnrpose hereinafter explained. From the rear side of said bearings Othe frame A is extended upward and rearward, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and forms continuations of said hearings toreceive the journals l of said roller L, when the latter rises upward.

A spring, 1?, secured to the frame A and resting upon the upper side ofeach journal I, bears the latter downward with a yielding pressure.

The feed-table, Q, at the upper front side of the frame A, has such ageneral rearward and downward inclination as to cause corn restingthereon to be easily moved into contact with the stripping-roller, butnot sufficient to cause said corn to move by its own weight, or inconsequence of the jarring of the machine, while at its inner edge saidtable inclines downward more sharply, for the purpose of causing saidcorn, after reaching such point, to pass quickly against saidstrippingroller.

The cylinder and roller being geared together so as to be driven in thedirections indicated by the arrows, the machine is complete, andoperates as follows: Ears of corn are placed upon the feedtable Q, andmoved forward until they will fall into contact with thestripping-roller G, which roller engages with the husks and carries eachear rearward between its upper side and the lower side of the belt M.Upon reaching the rubber roller H the ear of corn is revolved by thecombined action of the same, the belt M, and the stripping-roller O, andits husks are caught between and removed by said rollers, the teeth fand the flutes c engaging with and pulling said husks from the ear.

Having been stripped of its husks, the ear of corn passes rearward andfalls from the rear upper side of the machine, while said husks arecarried downward upon the hackling-cylinder I, which, revolving at itsperiphery in a reverse direction from that of the lower side of thestripping-roller, carries said husks forward, and at the same'timepartially hackles the latter between its teeth 1; and the teeth f ofsaid stripping-roller.

The husks are now carried between the teeth 1 of the hackling-cylinderI, and the teeth 70 of the concave K, which complete the subdivision ofsaid husks, which latter are then moved rearward and pass from themachine through the opening b.

In consequence of the relative arrangement of the teeth 11 and 7c, thehusks are finally subdivided without the breakage and injury which wouldoccur if said teeth passed between each other. At theinstant when an earof corn passes beneath theforward end of the belt or apron M, the rollerL rises until sufficient space is left between said belt and thepicking-roller, and in .thus rising the portion of the periphery of itspinion R which is in engagement with the driving-gear S is carriedupward, while the engaging portion of the periphery of said gear S ismoving downward, the result being that, at the time named, the speed ofsaid roller L and the belt M is increased, and the ear of corn is causedto pass more quickly into the machine.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new 1s- 1. A picking roller for corn husking machines,provided with radial teeth which are arranged Within its periphery, andare capable of yielding to external pressure inwardly in the directionof their length, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the roller 0, provided with the opening c,thetooth f, secured to and projecting outward from the disk F, the rubbertube E, the rubber ring G, and the washer D, substantially as and forthe purpose shown.

3. In combination with the gear-wheel S, pivoted upon a fixed bearing,the roller L, arranged to rise and fall within its bearings, andprovided with a pinion, R, which meshes with and receives motion fromsaid gearwheel, said parts being relatively arranged, as shown, withsaid gear-wheel and the body of said belt upon the same side of saidpinion, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set .my handthis 25th day of September, 1876.

FRANCIS M. WIDERMAN.

Witnesses GEO. S. PRINDLE, WILLIAM FITCH.

